Bishop: Iraqi Christians 'celebrated when Trump won'

Iraq prelate supports a preference for minorities fleeing genocide

Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Erbil, Iraq. (Credit)

Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil says the U.S. president's executive order, which some have criticized as a travel ban or discrimination against Muslims, actually brings "renewed hope" to persecuted minorities.

"Most Americans have no concept of what it was like to live as a Yazidi or Christian or other minority as ISIS invaded. Our people had the option to flee, to convert, or to be killed, and many were killed in the most brutal ways imaginable."

The executive order gives priority to minority refugees fleeing religious persecution. He said that is good news for persecuted Iraqis who have been hoping for help from America.

"I am happy an American president finally realizes there are Christians - and other religious minority groups - here who need help. This is an important step forward, and it means a good deal to the displaced people here. We have felt like we were forgotten by the United States until now."

While he agrees the executive order should have been clearly explained to the public, he wonders why protests against it became so heated.

"I wonder why all of these protesters were not protesting in the streets when ISIS came to kill Christians and Yazidis and other minority groups. They were not protesting when the tens of thousands of displaced Christians my archdiocese has cared for since 2014 received no financial assistance from the U.S. government or the U.N."

Calling the order a "Muslim ban" actually hurts Christians, he said. Continue reading here.